Roller Coaster

9 weeks ago tonight, we got a phone call for our first foster care placement.  We accepted.

The next 9 weeks were like a roller coaster.  The scariest roller coaster this thrill-seeking junkie has ever ridden.

We anxiously waited in line for more than a year. Waited for our turn to ride.

We were given our license and told to wait for the phone to ring. It was much like securing your seat belts on a roller coaster ride, waiting for it to leave the gate and take off.

Then, the ride leaves the gate.  You're excited. Ready to ride.  (Well, unless you're Mike who is terrified of roller coasters.)

You start up the steep hill.  It's scary.  There's so many unknowns ahead but still, you're excited to be on the ride.

Then, you go over that first hill.  Yep. You feel sick at your stomach. Ready to barf.  You're screaming or maybe you're laughing nervously, but you're scared to death.

You go up yet another hill and you start asking yourself "What was I thinking?!" and with conviction you say "I want off this ride!!"

But as the ride goes on, you finally relax and enjoy it.  You think to yourself, "I could do this again and again."

As the ride nears the end, you're bitter that it's almost over and you don't want to stand in line to do it all over again. You think "Let's go again now!"

You get off the ride, knees shaky, maybe even dizzy from the excitement.  You look back at the ride, your racing heart beaming with pride.  You have more confidence than you did when you stood in line the first time because you know that you can do it.  You survived the scariest ride of your life and you can't wait to do it all over again.